From Thanksgiving through the New Year it’s all about spending time with family and friends and entertaining. There is no better way to connect with old friends and to welcome new ones than with with great food and fabulous cocktails.
These festive and well balanced cocktails are the perfect way to get the party started and will surely give your guests something to talk about. I hope you will enjoy making them as much as you enjoy drinking them throughout the holiday season!
Lillet Winter Thyme
Lillet might not currently live in your liquor cabinet, but with this cocktail in your repertoire, you will want to make sure you have a steady supply in stock.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Ounces Of Lillet Blanc
- 1 1/2 Ounces Pear Juice
- 1 1/2 Ounces Of Tonic Water
- 1/2 Ounces Cinnamon Syrup
- 1 Ounces Fresh Lemon Juice
Decoration: Cinnamon Sticks, Pear Slices, Thyme
Directions:
- Fill a glass with ice and add all ingredients except the Tonic Water.
- Finally, fill with Tonic Water and garnish the glasses with the decoration.
Gingerbread White Russian
This is the perfect holiday twist on the classic White Russian cocktail. It’s a delicious holiday treat and doesn’t have to include the delightful lil gingerbread guy, but it’s the holidays and he’s so cute so why not?
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 2 Ounces (1/4 Cup) Vodka
- 1 1/2 Ounces (3 Tablespoons) Kahlua
- 1-2 Ounces (2-4 Tablespoons) Gingerbread Syrup
- 1-2 Ounces (2-4 Tablespoons) Heavy Cream
- Cinnamon Sticks And Gingerbread Cookies, For Garnish
Directions:
- Fill a glass with ice. Add the vodka, Kahlua, and gingerbread syrup. Stir gently.
- Add the heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Garnish with cinnamon and a gingerbread cookie
Pomegranate Ombre Sparkler
A festive spin on a mimosa, if you want something festive and yet simple, this is the way to go. With only two ingredients, this is a great cocktail to have on hand, especially with the threat of unexpected guests. It’s a simple mix of sweet pomegranate juice and sparkling wine. Yup, just two simple ingredients.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Wine
- 1/8 Cup Pomegranate Juice
- Rosemary Sprigs
- Pomegranate Arils Filled Ice Cubes
Directions:
- Pour pomegranate juice in a flute filled with ice cubes.
- Top with sparkling wine by carefully pouring on the side of the glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig. Cheers!
Bourbon Apple Cider
An Apple (Cider) a day keeps the doctor away, or something like that…this Bourbon Apple Cider will surely keep your guests happy, we guarantee it. With a perfect blend of sour and sweet this festive cocktail will have you wishing the festivities will never end.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- 8 Ounces Organic Apple Cider
- 4 Ounces Bourbon
- 4 Tablespoons Honey-thyme Simple Syrup
- 4 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
- Splash Of Club Soda To Taste
- Dash Of Cinnamon To Taste
To Garnish:
- 4 Thin Apple Slices
- 2 Thin Lemon Slices
- 2 Thyme Sprigs
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add the honey-thyme simple syrup, bourbon and apple cider to shaker.
- Shake until well-mixed.
- Add the lemon juice and club soda, shake until well-mixed:
- Pour into 2 glasses over ice.
- Garnish with 2 thin apple slices, a slice of lemon, a sprig of thyme and a cinnamon stick
- Serve and enjoy!
Pomegranate Ginger Paloma
Thought not traditionally used in Palomas this version uses ginger beer, providing a little twist on the classic cocktail and a nod to the holidays! Of course, if you prefer, you can obviously use club soda or anything with some fizz! Either way, these drinks are going to be delish!
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- Crushed Ice
- 1/2 Cup Pomegranate Juice
- 1/3 Cup Grapefruit Juice
- Juice Of 1/2 A Lime
- 2-4 Tablespoons Ginger Syrup
- 2-3 Ounces Tequila
- Ginger Beer Or Sparkling Water For Topping
Directions:
- Fill your glass halfway with ice.
- Add the pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, syrup, and tequila.
- Stir to combine and then top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with mint. enjoy!
Rudolph’s Cranberry Fizz
This tasty cocktail has an added element of fun in the form of a little marshmallow rudolph reindeer just chillin on the rim. Festive and whimsical.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- 10 cranberries
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 3 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup Champagne
- 2 marshmallow
- 4 cloves
- 1 toothpick
Directions:
- Muddle 8 of the cranberries and 2 of the rosemary sprigs in a shaker.
- Add gin, cranberry juice and vermouth and shake vigorously with ice.
- Strain into 2 chilled cocktail glasses. Top each glass with Champagne.
- To garnish, place the remaining 4 rosemary sprigs into 2 marshmallows to create antlers. Break the toothpick in half and insert into front of the marshmallow and attach the remaining cranberries to create the noses. Then, place the 4 cloves between the noses and antlers to create eyes.
Very Merry Ornamentini
This for sure will give your guests something to talk about! Not only is it a seasonal spin on a cosmo, but it comes in a Christmas Ornament. I mean, come on! You can place these badboys in martini glasses or arrange them in a bucket of ice or even put them on your tree and grab as needed during awkward family moments throughout the season. We are here to help.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur
- 1/2 cup cherry juice
- 1/4 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed with pulp removed
- Sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary sprigs to garnish
Directions:
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
- Using a funnel, pour the mixture into four 3-inch clear glass ornaments that have been rinsed. Replace the topper on each ornament.
- Add sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig to four martini glasses. Set the ornament in the glass to serve. Before drinking, slowly pour the contents of the ornament onto the cranberries.
I hope you enjoy making these holiday cocktails as much as we did! Let us know your favorites and tell us how you eventually got your guests to leave after introducing them to these delightful beverages. Drink responsibly, don’t get too close to reindeer cause they are actually kinda mean, don’t open the door to random carolers as they might be bandits and don’t get stuck under the mistletoe with a relative as that’s awkward for everyone.